Release and Capture of a Fixed-Wing Aircraft

• US 20170036762A1
• Filed: 08/03/2015
• Published: 02/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Gamble, Dustin, Curran, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 10,933,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 5/00 Aircraft transported by aircraft, e.g. for release or reberthing during flight flying units formed by separate aircraft B64C37/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/16 with five or more distinct rotor axes, e.g. octocopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/20 for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/90 Launching from or landing on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/82 Airborne vehicles

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system includes an unmanned, multirotor helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft. The multirotor helicopter may couple to the fixed-wing aircraft to support and hold the fixed-wing aircraft. The multirotor helicopter may then elevate the fixed-wing aircraft from a launch site to a release altitude. The multirotor helicopter may also accelerate the fixed-wing aircraft to a release speed and upon reaching the release speed, release the fixed-wing aircraft. The unmanned, multirotor helicopter may then return to the launch site.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an unmanned, multirotor helicopter;

a fixed-wing aircraft;

wherein the unmanned, multirotor helicopter is configured to;

couple to the fixed-wing aircraft to support and hold the fixed-wing aircraft;

elevate the fixed-wing aircraft from a launch site to a release altitude;

accelerate the fixed-wing aircraft to a release speed;

release the fixed-wing aircraft upon reaching the release speed; and

return to the launch site.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed-wing aircraft is configured to utilize a propulsion system to enhance the acceleration of the unmanned, multirotor helicopter.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein upon releasing the fixed-wing aircraft, the unmanned, multirotor helicopter is further configured to elevate away from the fixed-wing aircraft to avoid downdraft interference with the fixed-wing aircraft.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the unmanned multirotor helicopter is controlled by a remotely located pilot.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the unmanned multirotor helicopter operates autonomously.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the unmanned, multirotor helicopter is further configured to:

elevate from the launch site to a capture altitude;

accelerate to a capture speed;

capture the fixed-wing aircraft;

decelerate the captured fixed-wing aircraft to a hover; and

descend the captured fixed-wing aircraft to the launch site.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the multirotor helicopter and the fixed-wing aircraft further comprise:

one or more sensors and one or more communication devices configured to coordinate a capture sequence between the fixed-wing aircraft and the multirotor helicopter, the capture sequence comprising a capture speed, a capture elevation, and a capture vector.

8. A method, comprising:

coupling an unmanned, multirotor helicopter to a fixed-wing aircraft;

elevating the fixed-wing aircraft from a launch site to a release altitude using the unmanned, multirotor helicopter;

accelerating the fixed-wing aircraft to a release speed using the unmanned, multirotor helicopter;

releasing the fixed-wing aircraft from the unmanned, multirotor helicopter upon reaching the release speed; and

returning the unmanned, multirotor aircraft to the launch site.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein accelerating the fixed-wing aircraft to a release speed using the unmanned, multirotor helicopter further comprises utilizing a propulsion system of the fixed-wing aircraft to enhance the acceleration of the unmanned, multirotor helicopter.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein upon releasing the fixed-wing aircraft, the unmanned multirotor helicopter elevates away from the fixed-wing aircraft to avoid downdraft interference with the fixed-wing aircraft.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the unmanned multirotor helicopter is controlled by a remotely located pilot.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein elevating, accelerating, releasing, and returning are performed by the multirotor helicopter autonomously.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

elevating, using the unmanned, multirotor helicopter, from the launch site to a capture altitude;

accelerating, using the unmanned, multirotor helicopter, to a capture speed;

capturing the fixed-wing aircraft using the multirotor helicopter;

decelerating the unmanned, multirotor helicopter and the captured fixed-wing aircraft to a hover; and

descending the unmanned, multirotor helicopter and the captured fixed-wing aircraft to the launch site.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein capturing the fixed-wing aircraft further comprises:

coordinating a capture sequence between the fixed-wing aircraft and the multirotor helicopter, the capture sequence comprising a capture speed, a capture elevation, and a capture vector.

15. An unmanned, multirotor helicopter, comprising:

a coupling mechanism configured to couple the unmanned, multirotor helicopter to an aircraft;

at least one propeller cluster configured to;

lift the aircraft from a launch site to a release altitude; and

accelerate the aircraft to a release and speed;

wherein the coupling mechanism is further configured to release the aircraft upon reaching the release speed.

16. The unmanned, multirotor helicopter of claim 15, wherein the unmanned, multirotor helicopter is remotely controlled by a pilot.

17. The unmanned, multirotor helicopter of claim 15, wherein the unmanned, multirotor helicopter operates autonomously.

18. The unmanned, multirotor helicopter of claim 15, wherein the at least one propeller cluster is further configured to elevate the unmanned, multirotor helicopter away from the fixed-wing aircraft upon releasing the fixed-wing aircraft.

19. The unmanned, multirotor helicopter of claim 15 wherein the at least one propeller cluster is further configured to:

elevate the unmanned, multirotor helicopter from the launch site to a capture altitude;

accelerate the unmanned, multirotor helicopter to a capture speed;

the coupling mechanism is further configured to capture the fixed-wing aircraft; and

the at least one propeller cluster is further configured to;

decelerate the unmanned, multirotor helicopter and the captured fixed-wing aircraft to a hover; and

descend the unmanned, multirotor helicopter and the captured fixed-wing aircraft to the launch site.

20. The unmanned, multirotor helicopter of claim 19, further comprising:

a plurality of sensors and a communication system, the plurality of sensors and the communication system configured to coordinate a capture sequence with the fixed-wing aircraft, the capture sequence comprising a capture speed, a capture elevation, and a capture vector.